Title: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Developer: Ubisoft
Rating: T
Released: 2002
Platform: Gamecube

My lovely wife got me this game for Christmas. Her brother-in-law recommended it to us as an intense game that required a lot of thought. It sure lived up to that description. Overall I enjoyed the game quite thoroughly and would recommend it to anyone else who likes to sneak around. Bring your patience.

You are Sam Fisher, part of a black ops group within the NSA. Why the NSA is running operations in other countries escapes me. Aren't they supposed to spy on Americans?

Anyway, as an uber-elite commando you're sent in alone to free the hostages, recover data, kidnap, destroy, you name it. I would seriously not like to meet Sam Fisher in a dark alley.

Speaking of dark alleys, that's likely where you would find Sam if you were quick enough to spot him. The game is really geared around light. You have to keep to the shadows (shoot out a light to make some if needs be) and only move out of them when the coast is clear. There are a number of levels where alerting just one guard will ruin everything. That's where the patience comes in. Sometimes it just takes a lot of save, try, reload.

The weapons are well done. There are just two guns, a pistol and a rifle both silenced. The rifle has an attached grenade laucher which can throw cameras, shock devices, and gas grenades. Sam is also handy with lock picks, security camera jammers, a fiber optic camera for peering under doors. Oh and the night vision and thermal imaging headsets come in quite handy.

The game is balanced very well. None of the weapons can get you through the entire game alone, but you don't feel lacking either. Ammo was generally plentiful if only because in most cases you can knock out the bad guy rather than kill him. Don't forget to hide the body or the guards will find it. That's a bad thing, trust me.

It took me about 2 and 1/2 weeks to complete the game. In total I probably played 20-30 hours, I think. Maybe more. The few times where I had to save and reload over and over are kind of a blur. The story was cohesive and the ending was dramatic. Great game.